Intestinal parasitic infection in operation Solomon immigrants

Previous studies have documented a high infection rate of intestinal parasites in Ethiopian immigrants to Israel. As a result, current treatment recommendations are for mass treatment without prior screening tests. However, the group of 15,400 Ethiopian immigrants who arrived in Israel in May 1991 (Operation Solomon) represents a somewhat different population from those who had immigrated earlier. The 1991 immigrants had spent 9-12 months in Addis Ababa before their evacuation; the conditions there, together with the provision of medical care, may have resulted in lower infection rates for intestinal parasites. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites in these recent immigrants to assess whether mass treatment would still be appropriate. Random stool specimens were obtained from 80 residents of a population of 650 Ethiopian immigrants who were cared for at a Jerusalem clinic. Specimens were examined at the Ministry of Health Laboratory. Of the 80 specimens 45 had sufficient quantity of stool to perform the standard Richie concentration method. Pooling results from all 80 individuals revealed 60 (75.0%) positive specimens, 53 (66.3%) with at least one pathogenic parasite, and 21 (26.3%) with multiple pathogenic parasites. These data provide the first systematic information on intestinal parasitosis in immigrants from Operation Solomon and suggest that mass treatment in this group is appropriate.